Water-level indicator



ATTORNEYS.

Patented P91114, 1922;

F/g .l

ENTOR /imf/ G. A. BRYAN.

WATER LEVEL INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FIALED JUNE I9, i920.

attention after installation. `and advantages ywill be vapparent from the PATENT OFFICE.

Grenen ALERED BRYAN, or PERU, INDIANA.

WATER-,LEVEL INDICATOR.

Application filed .Tune 19,

:T0 all ,whom t .may concern;

lBe it known that ll, Gnonsn ALFRED BRYAN, .a citizen of the United States, ,residing at IPeru, in thecounty of Miami and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and use- 1ful Improvements `in Tater-Level Indicators, of whichthe .following vis afull, clear,

and v,exact description. v-

This invention relates to :water level indicators of .the type employed inconnection withsteam generators. An object isA to provide -an indicator lin which damageto adj a-r centobjectsand injury to attendants due to Qthey breakagei'of the waterctube of the indicator are prevented. rAnother object is to provide an indicator in which the water or indicator -tube is protected from accidental injury7 or from cracking by contact with cold drafts of air. Another object is to `provide an indicator of the above type in which the vision is good, which is simple and durable in construction, and inexpensive to manufacture, and which requires a minimum of Other objects following description, and thev novel features of my invention will be particularly ,pointedjout in claims.

' The invention' comprehends the enclosure of the nsual transparent water tube within a casing having a strong glass window in a wall through which the level of the water inthe water tube may be observed, the casingL being completely vfilled with aV liquid,

preferably water, either clear or colored,

with provision for keeping the casing com- A pletely filled withv the rliquid and under the same pressure as that Within the water tube.

lnthe drawings: Fig. l is a lfront elevation of 'an indicator in -which my invention has been embodied: Fig. 2 isa vertical section of the same;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the same, but indicating a slight modification, and

" Fig. Liis anhoriz'ontal section substantially on the line YJ-t of Fig. l.

Referring to the drawings, the main ca sing l is provided with a side wall 2 removably secured thereto by screws 3 and having a window opening ,4. A transparent win-y dow vglass 5 is secured .between the cover 2 and the casing l to close'the window opening, the casing being madewater-tight by gaskets 6 between the edges of the window 'nglassand the casing. The upper and lower @nde 0f the Qa'singhave aligned `ape,faire s 7 Specification of Letters'Patent.

Patented Feb. 14, 1.9.1212.

4r1,920. ySerial No. 390,Q67.

ture beinglarger than the inner section yand forming a shoulder 8 between them. Connection terminals kor fittings 9 are ythreaded into the larger outer sections of the vapertures of the casing and have suitable dconnections 10 leading to the generator the usual manner. The lower connection 10 has a drain cock l1 by means of which the indicator can be blown for cleaning'the ,indicating tube of sediment, etc. i A ...transparent indicating tube 12eXtends throughlthe casing with its ends passing throughihesfriaii sections of the aligned apertures .anidwprojecting into the ends of the connection terminals or fittings 9. .In the ,embodiment illustrated in Fig. .2 I provide l"packing "13 surrounding the ends ofthe glass in theapertures and lbetween the shouldersS andthe water andby means of the Ipipe 1A the pressure within and withoutthe indicating4 tube is equalized. The pressure also .maintalns `the casing filled.

In the embodiment killustrated in Fig. 3 I have omitted the pipe 14: as a connection to the generator and in place thereof I .dis-

pense with the packing 13 at the upper end lof the tube 12 so that there will be sufficient leakage past the side 'of the tube into the casing at this end to equalize the pressure upon the inside and outside of the tube. There will also be sufficient condensation to maintain the casing `filled with water.V

The water within thecasing may be clear or slightly colored in orderfto have the column of water readily visible fromthe lfront vwindow. The casingsurrounding the indicating tube protects the latter from injury `by accidental contact (if an object andthe tube, andfrorn cold air which is likelyl to crack it, and keeps the heat and steam from direct contact with'the flat glass to eliminate contraction and expansion ofthe'same and proteetthe ,gaskets 6 from destruction.

1f fhr'detls @bestendig any reason sol L`prefer to -fill the casing with clean pure water and keep it so rby using the pipe 14. lVhen condensing is employed, the pipe .14 and upper packing 13 may, if desired be dispensed with and the casing filled with water and maintained filled from the upper generator connection without trouble from sediment dropping into the outside cavity` and obstructing the vision. I have found that the colored water in the outer casing aids in determining the height of the water column in the inner tube.`

vIt is obvious that various changes inthe construction herein described and illustrated may be made within the principle and scope of my invention.

`I claim: 4

1. A water level indicator for steam generators, comprising a transparent indicating tube, means for connecting the ends of the tube to a generator above and below the normal water line, and a casing surround ing the tube and filled with a liquid, said casing having a transparent portion enabling observation of the level Within the indicating tube. l

2. A water level indicator for steam generators comprising a closed casing filled with a suitable liquid and having a transparent window in a wall thereof, a transparent tube extending between the end walls of said casing, and means for connecting the ends of the tube to a generator.

3. A water level indicator for steam generators comprising a closed casing filled with a suitable slightly colored liquid and having a transparent window in one wall thereof, a transparent tube extending between the end walls `of said casing, and

means for connecting the ends of the tube to a generator. y

4. A water level indicator for steam generators comprising a closed casing having a transparent window in one Wall thereof,

transparent tube extending between the end walls of said casing, and means for connecting the interiorof said casing and said tube to a generator.

5. A water level indicator for steam generators comprising a closed casing filled .with a suitable liquid and having a transparent window in kone wall thereof, a transparent tube extending between the end walls of said casing. and means for connecting the interior of said casing and said tube to a generator.

6. A water. level indicator for steam gen- .erators` comprising a closed casing filled with a suitable slightly colored liquid and having a transparent window in one wall thereof, a transparent tube extending between the end walls of said casing, and means for connecting the interior of said casing and said tubeV to a generator.

7. A water level indicator for steam generators comprising a closed casing having a transparent window in one side wall thereof, a transparent tube extending between the end walls of said casing and visible through said window, means for connecting the ends of the tubes to a generator, and means including a single conduit for connecting the interior of said casing to `said generator to equalize the pressure on the inside and outside of the transparent tube.

8. A water level indicator for steam generators comprising a closed casing having a transparent window in one side wall thereof, a transparent tube extending between the end walls of said casing and visible through said window, means for connecting the ends of the tubes to a generator, and a pipe connected to said casing, extending to a height equal to that of the chamber within the casing, and then connectibleto said generator.

9. In a water level indicator, a casing having a transparent window in one side Wall, aligned apertures in the opposite end walls, the outer ends of each of the apertures being enlarged, a transparent tube extending through said casing with its ends .closely passing through the narrow portion of each aperture and into the enlarged portions, boiler connection terminals into which the ends of the tube project, threaded into the enlarged sections ofthe apertures, and packing atthe inner end of one of the terminals and surrounding the tube. y

10. A water level indicator for steam generators comprising a transparent indicating tube, means for connecting the ends of the tube to a generator, above and below the normal water line, a Vcasing surrounding the tube and filled with a liquid, said casing having a transparent portion enabling observation of the level within the indicating tube, a connection between the casing and the boiler for maintaining the casing filled with' theliquid and for equalizing the pressure within and without the indicating tube.

11. A water level indicator for steam gen-V f erators comprising an indicating tube, means for connecting the tube to a generator, a jacket filled with a liquid completely surrounding said tube, and having generator connection to maintain the jacket completely filled with aliquid and equalize the `pressure uppn the inside and outside of the indicating tu e.

12. A water level indicator for steam generators, comprising an indicating tube,

a generator connection to equalize the pressure upon the inside and outside of the indicating tube.

3. A water level indicator 'for steam generators comprising a transparent indicating tube, means for connecting the ends of the tube to the generator above and below the normal water line, and a casing filled with a liquid surrounding the tube,with the contained liquid under a pressure approximately equal to the pressure in the generator.

14. A water level indicator for steam generators comprising a transparent indicating tube, means for connecting the ends of the tube to a generator, above and below the normal water line, and a casing surrounding the tube and filled with a liquid under a pressure approximately equal to that Within the indicating` tube. n

15. A water level indicator for steam generators, comprising a casing having a transparent window portion, a transparent indicating tube extending through the casing and visible through the window portion, devices for connecting the ends of the tube to a generator above and below the normal water level,'and a pipe connected to the lower part of the casing and extending to a height at least approximately equal to that of the chamber within the easing and then connectible to the generator below the normal water level, the space between the casing and tube being filled with a liquid and maintained filled by the said pipe.

16. A water level indicator for steam generators, comprising a casing having a transparent window portion, a transparent indicating tube extending through the casing and visible through the window portion, devices for connecting the ends of the tube to a generator above and below the normal water level, the space between the casing and tube being completely filled with a liquid, and means connected to the interior of the casing and the generator' for maintaining an externa-l compensating column of liquid to maintain the casing completely filled with the liquid during all variations of pressure and temperature.

17. A water level indicator for steam generators, comprising a casing having a transparent windev.v portion, a transparent indicating tube extending through the casing and visible through the window portion, devices for connecting vthe ends of the tube to a generator above and below the normal water 18. A water level indicator for steam generators, comprising a casing having a transparent window portion, a transparent indicating tube extending through the casing and visible through the window portion, devices for connecting the ends of the tube to a generator above and below the normal water level, the space between the casing and tube being completely filled with a liquid, and a conduit connected between the ylower part of the casing and the generator below the normal water level of the latter, the intermediate portion of the conduit rising to a height at least approximately equal to the highest part of the chamber within the casing.

19. A water level indicator for steam generators comprising a closed casing having a transparent window in one side wall thereof, a transparent tube extending between the end walls of said casing and visible through said window, means for connecting the ends of the tubes to a generator, and a U-shaped pipe connected at one end to the casing at a point intermediate of the length of the latter with the base of the U extending at least as high as the upper end of the chamber within the casing and with the other end of the U arranged for connection to the generator below the normal water level.

20. A water level indicator for steam generators comprising a transparent indicating tube, means for connecting the ends of the tube to aI generator above and below the normal water level, a metal casing surrounding the tube and having secured behind an opening in a wall thereof a narrow relatively thick plate of window glass, and means in cluding a conduit opening into the casing for connecting the interior of the casing to 'the generator to equalize the pressure on the inside and outside of the indicating tube.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my signature.

GEORGE ALFRED BRYAN. 

